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pPod: Dolores Park's Newly Proposed Place to Piss

Dolores Park picnickers without a pot to piss in will soon have a pod to piss in. Or something. Anyway, it's called the “pPod” (or, as we prefer to call it, “The Masturbation Station”) and city officials hope to include it in next year's renovation of Dolores Park.

The thinking is the European-style pissoir will help curb all the public urination that happens on warm days in the park, when everyone balloons up on warm Tecate and elects to wash down the Muni tracks instead of wait in the 20+ minute bathroom lines.

According to SocketSite, which seems to fancy itself as the number one source for pisspress, “The pissoir would have a front and back semi-circle screen consisting of specialized wire fencing covered with vines a three-foot diameter concrete base and a sanitary drain with a fine mesh grate. A user would enter the pissoir from the existing north-south internal pathway and face the interior of the Park.” There will also be a one-way drain to prevent it from smelling, poles to prevent the inevitable drunken popping of squatting, and no sink for the hands you weren't going to wash anyway.

Of course, while we're sure most reasonable people think this is a fine development for the park, it seems “plugged in” park neighbors are already voicing their criticisms in SocketSite's comments. As one proclaims, “I live right across the street from this proposed 'pPod' and fear that this will cause a lot more problems down the road with odor, nudity, and the list can go on (none of it is positive). How do we avoid this from getting installed? I want to prevent my neighborhood from becoming like the Tenderloin.” Or, as another puts it, “The very idea of a pissoir seems sexist.”

Given the mounting opposition, we're sure it'll be another 18-36 months of lengthy community meetings before this titular homage to Steve Jobs is installed.

EXACTLY! It’s insane. Logically, you can EITHER be against public restrooms OR be against people pissing and shitting on the street. If you’re against people pissing and shitting in the street, then, logically, a toilet must be provided for them to use instead.

just one? seems like it still won’t relieve (pun intended) the line/wait situation. i expect some dudes will use this, some will use the new restrooms, and some will continue to use the tracks. convenience/speed is everything.

I didnt know about these, but why do you guys think they will be clogged more than ones in use in Europe? Is the the people? or the different diet of more red meat cause bigger bowel movements? or what reasoning?